Belt clasp (variants)

ABSTRACT

In order to simplify the design and use of a belt clasp whilst at the same time increasing the reliability and maintaining the integrity of the belt, and ensuring the integrity of the chain in the event of increased, differently directed static and dynamic mechanical loads, and the possibility of use of the front surfaces of the chain as information carriers and design means, in the belt clasp, which comprises two interlocking parts in the form of a linkage and a buckle connected to the belt, the linkage is formed with an internal through-opening for the belt, with arcuate lateral projections and a gap between the arcuate lateral projections with a size equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the belt but less than the width of the belt, while the buckle is formed with a transverse width that is greater than the width of the internal through-opening for the belt in the linkage. Furthermore, the linkage is capable of attachment to a belt, a bag, a briefcase, a case, an instrument case, a load transfer or transportation means or to any other article requiring a temporary connection, while the linkage and the buckle comprise means for mutual fixing when the said linkage and buckle are closed, for example, the means which are in the form of a T-shaped projection arranged on the buckle and a T-shaped opening in the linkage, magnets, velcro fasteners, clips, snap locks or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national stage application of a PCT application PCT/RU2012/000197 filed on 21 Mar. 2012, published as W02012134345, whose disclosure is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, which PCT application claims priority of a Russian Federation patent application RU2011111159 filed on 25 Mar. 2011.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention is related to the haberdashery accessories which can be used in production and usage of belts, bags and briefcases with shoulder straps, clothing and equipment for general and special purpose, and means for linking goods and products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For a long time, conventional belt buckles with fasteners of hole-and-snap lock type prevailed worldwide.

To fasten such buckle, the wearer is forced to identify visually or grope manually the snap lock of the buckle and the eyelet (hole for its fixing), and this happens every time when one needs to fasten and unfasten the belt. It raises a number of disadvantages and takes considerable time. In addition to that, the presence of holes in the belt significantly reduces the strength of the belt.

A carabine clasp in the form of a bracket with a spring snap lock, used to connect quickly two components with loops, was invented in the United States in 1906.

However, its disadvantages are as follows: spontaneous unfastening, especially at abrupt dynamic loads, low strength near the spring fastener, frequent breaking of the spring fastener, and twisting of the belt attached to the carabiner clasp. In addition, normal operation is possible only in a certain position of the bracket.

Lately, a lot of buckles for belts have appeared. Their original design allows carrying out the process of fastening and unfastening automatically.

In the known design of the belt buckle with a rectangular body, that is hollow inside and is formed with sidewalls and the inner and outer plates, the said process is carried out almost automatically without groping a hook pin by means of its placing on the central axis of the inner plate [2].

As for the said belt buckle design, there is no rigid fixation of the fastened belt, and during sudden movements of the wearer a hook pin may disengage an eyelet resulting in spontaneous unfastening. In addition, for such belt buckle design the presence of eyelets (holes) is mandatory, which violates the integrity of the belt and is not desirable for the original pattern and texture, and can lead to the damage or breakage in eyelets.

Another construction of a belt buckle is known, in which coupling of the belt at its fastening is carried out almost automatically by means of a clip with a locking knob and an end portion, wherein the clip fixes the locking knob in the eyelet. When using this clip, eyelets are not necessary, the belt is equipped with saw-toothed coupling means on the back of the belt which helps maintaining the integrity of the belt [3].

The said belt buckle has two parts, a coupling part for fixing and adjusting the belt length and a receiving part of a rectangular hollow body made of sidewalls and the inner and outer plates restricting the body cavity designed for the passage therethrough of the free end of the belt; a clip with a locking knob and an end portion for fixing the position of the belt, wherein the inner plate has a cutout in the central part.

However, the disadvantages of this buckle are as follows: the complexity of manufacturing the belt having parallel grooves and protrusions on the surface, and also low reliability of the construction of the clip in the form of a hollow cylinder with a spring inserted therein, which can be easily broken at fastening or unfastening under mechanical loads.

Still another belt buckle is known comprising a body made of one piece having a base with a coupling means for fixing the narrow end of the strap on the back side of the buckle and a means of capturing the other end of the belt in the form of a bendable portion on the outer side of the buckle, and a fixing element of the end of the strap, wherein the body base has an additional bendable portion which is located along the length of the body base and bent towards a main bendable grip, the fixing element is in the form of a bend on the back side; wherein the end of the body base adjacent to the bend has tooth threading [4].

Although, the said construction is generally complicated to manufacture and not very reliable in operation.

One more belt buckle having a coupling part and a receiving part is known. The receiving part comprises a hollow inside body formed with sidewalls and the inner and outer plates, a clip with the end portion and a locking knob, the first, second and third axes of a hinge, and a magnet. The clip is mounted on the first axis rotatably. On one end the first axis of the hinge has a knob and is mounted to control the clip when pressing the knob. The end portion and the locking knob of the clip are positioned between the inner and outer plates of the body, wherein the inner plate has an opening near the end portion of the clip, wherein the magnet is rigidly attached that is adapted to lock the end portion of the clip on the inner plate for the free end of the belt passing through the clip. The coupling part comprising a body for containing the adjustable part of the belt is modular with the possibility of removal and replacement and is mounted on the second axis of the hinge rotatably. The body is formed by side walls and the front and rear plates with the back plate having a locking piece with a notched portion for locking a free end of the belt, wherein the locking piece is mounted on the third axis of the hinge rotatably [5].

The advantages of the above-mentioned construction are as follows: the possibility to fix the belt automatically, rapid adjustment of the belt length, the possibility to replace the coupling part of the buckle while maintaining the integrity of the belt. However, it is characterized by the complexity of construction and low reliability associated with having multiple axes and rotating parts.

All the above-mentioned belt buckles have a common disadvantage as there is a limited ability to use them for fastening the belt to handbags, especially heavily loaded and moved sharply.

The closest to the technical nature and technical result achieved when used (herein further called ‘prototype’) is a buckle-lock made in the form of two interlocking parts, a detachable part with eyelets for attaching and adjusting the belt length, a receiving part and a locking portion for blocking the snap lock in the closed position, wherein the detachable part is made in the form of a closed bracket with eyelets and the receiving part in the form of a box-shaped body with eyelets for attaching and adjusting the length of the belt with a recess for engaging the detachable bracket. The front wall of the body recess is angled at 12° and fixing of the interlocking portions is provided by a snap lock, based on a spring [6 (the prototype)].

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt clasp of simple and reliable design while ensuring the integrity of the belt and high reliability of the clasp in the event of increased, differently directed static and dynamic mechanical loads.

An intended result achieved by the proposed invention is to simplify the design and use of the belt clasp, while increasing the reliability and maintaining the integrity of the belt and ensuring the integrity of the chain in the event of increased, differently directed static and dynamic mechanical loads and the possibility to use the front surfaces of the chain as information carriers and design means.

The aforesaid object is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, in which in the belt clasp comprises two interlocking parts in the form of a linkage and a buckle connected to the belt, the linkage is formed with an internal through opening for the belt, with arcuate lateral projections and a gap between the arcuate lateral projections with a size equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the belt but less than the width of the belt, while the buckle is formed with a transverse width that is greater than the width of the internal through-opening for the belt in the linkage.

According to another characteristic, the arcuate lateral projections are made in the form of curved solid, hollow or perforated plates or brackets or in a different form similar to the function performed.

Furthermore, the linkage is capable of attachment to a belt, a bag, a briefcase, a case, an instrument case, a load transfer or transportation means or to any other article requiring a temporary connection, while the linkage and the buckle comprise means for mutual fixing when the said linkage and buckle are closed, for example, the means which are in the form of a T- shaped projection arranged on the buckle and a T-shaped opening in the linkage, magnets, velcro fasteners, clips, snap locks or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.

Besides, the buckle and the linkage are of rectangular, round, oval and other form predetermined by the design and purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 represents an outside view of an embodiment of a linkage.

FIG. 2 represents an inside view of an embodiment of a linkage.

FIG. 3 represents an outside view of an embodiment of a belt buckle.

FIG. 4 represents an inside view of an embodiment of a belt buckle.

FIG. 5 represents the initial stage of connecting a belt buckle and a linkage attached to a bag or a briefcase, and namely the initial stage of positioning the belt into the linkage.

FIG. 6 represents the intermediate stage of connecting a belt buckle and a linkage attached to a bag or a briefcase, and namely positioning the belt into the linkage.

FIG. 7 represents the intermediate stage of connecting a belt buckle and a linkage attached to a bag or a briefcase.

FIG. 8 represents the final stage of connecting a belt buckle and a linkage attached to a bag or a briefcase.

FIG. 9 represents a view of an embodiment of a linkage.

FIG. 10 represents a view of an embodiment of a belt buckle.

FIGS. 11 and 12 represent variants of connecting the linkage and the belt buckle represented in FIGS. 9 and 10.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The belt clasp according to the invention comprises two parts; a linkage as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 and a belt buckle as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 10, which are made of different materials of different outer forms, such as rectangular, round, oval or substantially freeform.

Further, fixation of the buckle and the linkage is provided by various known means, for example by a T-shaped projection on the buckle and a T-shaped opening in the linkage (FIG. 1-4), and also with the use of magnets, Velcro tapes, clips, snap locks or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.

A linkage is attached to one end of the belt, a bag, a briefcase or any other equipment through conventional coupling means as rivets, clips, brackets or any other functionally similar coupling means.

The buckle is fixed to the belt in various ways. The arcuate lateral projections of the linkage are made in the form of curved plates, a grid, a lattice, cylinders, half-rings or other similar forms.

Various external forms of the linkage and the buckle provide a huge design and artistic potential and the possibility of using the invention in the art, music, sports, and almost any field of human activity.

The belt clasp according to the invention has three outer surfaces (planes) to place advertising and other information on, two outer surfaces (planes) of the arcuate lateral projections of the linkage and one outer surface (plane) of the buckle, with the potential for relative movement and connection that extends the capabilities of design options for the invention.

According to one characteristic of the proposed belt clasp, the buckle and the linkage are fixed at the final stage of their connection, for example by a T-shaped projection on the buckle and a T-shaped opening in the linkage (FIG. 1-4), and also with the use of magnets, Velcro tapes, clips or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.

A belt clasp according to the invention in the particular case of its application in the production and use of bags and briefcases with straps is used as follows;

First, the strap is folded lengthwise 5 cm from the buckle and in the folded-over condition is inserted into the groove in the linkage between its longitudinal arcs (FIG. 5).

Then the strap is straightened inside the linkage by pulling it up with the buckle (FIG. 6).

When the buckle and the linkage are in contact (FIG. 7), they may be fixed relative to each other, for example by a T-shaped projection on the buckle (FIG. 4) and a T-shaped opening in the linkage (FIG. 1,2), and also with the use of other similar means as magnets, Velcro tapes, clips or any other known mutual fixing means.

The proposed invention can be used for simple and reliable mutual attachment of the ends of one belt or a mutual fastening the ends of several belts, for fastening a strap to the male and female shoulder bags, briefcases, sports bags, bags and cases of special-purpose, bags for notebooks and other computer, video and audio equipment, instrument cases, straps for securing cargo to vehicles, straps for attaching cars and other vehicles.

Particularly, the proposed invention can be used for fastening straps in

-   -   transporting vehicles and trailers;     -   securing straps, suspenders, ties for cargo and cargo         facilities;     -   raising and holding cargo;     -   seat belts in the car and other vehicles;     -   medicine, when bandaging, imposing a tourniquet, and mounting         medical devices;     -   climbing and high-altitude work;     -   fastening straps to the Small Arms;     -   navigation for securing cargo;     -   plumbing for pipe cleaning;     -   securing goods with straps to the ceiling, walls, the floor or         any other surface or plane;     -   securing and hanging cargo, lighting fixtures and other objects;     -   fastening machinery parts, movable and immovable objects;     -   construction and architecture when working with prefabricated         demountable structures;

The ability to achieve the desired technical effect is provided by the following:

-   -   simplicity of design, namely the presence of only two parts of         the belt clasp, a linkage (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a belt buckle         (FIGS. 3 and 4);     -   ease of use with the possibility of assembling and disassembling         the linkage with two fingers of one hand;     -   reliability of load distribution in the chain on the contact         surface (plane) of the linkage and the buckle;     -   comfortable use of the bags as the belt is always positioned in         the same plane without twisting;     -   ability to perform two functions, namely the function of a         decorative buckle and a strap connecting the strap and the bag;     -   compactness of assembled linked position;     -   use of facial planes of the chain as information carriers and         for design solutions;     -   versatility and possibility to use on bags of any structure and         in various locations for fastening belts.

Parts of the belt clasp can be made of metal, metal wire, plastic, and other materials of similar properties by punching, bending, molding or welding on conventional equipment by known techniques.

REFERENCES CITED

[1] http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapa

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[2] Patent No of RF 2141237, A44B 11/00, 1999

[3] Patent No of U.S. Pat. No. 6427291, A44B 11/25, 2001

[4] Inventor's Certificate No of USSR 1811789, A44B 11/02, publication date of 30 Apr. 1993

[5] Patent No of RF 2310357, A44B 11/00, publication date of 20 Nov. 2007

[6] Patent No of RF 7585, A44B 11/00, publication date of 16 Sep. 1998 (prototype) 

1. The belt clasp comprising two interlocking parts in the form of a linkage and a buckle connected to the belt, wherein the linkage is formed with an internal through-opening for the belt, with arcuate lateral projections and a gap between the arcuate lateral projections with a size equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the belt but less than the width of the belt, while the buckle is formed with a transverse width that is greater than the width of the internal through-opening for the belt in the linkage
 2. The belt clasp according to claim 1 wherein the arcuate lateral projections of the linkage are made in the form of curved solid, hollow or perforated plates or brackets or in a different form similar to the function performed.
 3. The belt clasp according to claim 1 wherein the linkage is capable of attachment to a belt, a bag, a briefcase, a case, an instrument case, a load transfer or transportation means or to any other article requiring a temporary connection.
 4. The belt clasp according to claim 1 wherein the linkage and the buckle comprise means for mutual fixing when the said linkage and buckle are closed, for example, the means which are in the form of a T-shaped projection and a T-shaped opening in the linkage, magnets, velcro fasteners, clips, snap locks or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.
 5. The belt clasp according to claim 1 wherein the buckle and the linkage are of rectangular, round, oval and other form predetermined by the design and purpose.
 6. The belt clasp comprising two interlocking parts in the form of a linkage and a buckle connected to the belt, wherein the linkage is formed with an internal through-opening for the belt, with arcuate lateral projections and a gap between the arcuate lateral projections with a size equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the belt but less than the width of the belt, the buckle is formed with a transverse width that is greater than the width of the internal through-opening for the belt in the linkage, while the linkage and the buckle comprise means for mutual fixing when the said linkage and buckle are closed, for example, the means which are in the form of a T-shaped projection arranged on the buckle and a T-shaped opening in the linkage, magnets, velcro fasteners, clips, snap locks or any other functionally similar mutual fixing means.
 7. The belt clasp according to claim 6 wherein the arcuate lateral projections of the linkage are made in the form of curved solid, hollow or perforated plates or brackets or in a different form similar to the function performed.
 8. The belt clasp according to claim 6 wherein the linkage is capable of attachment to a belt, a bag, a briefcase, a case, an instrument case, a load transfer or transportation means or to any other article requiring a temporary connection.
 9. The belt clasp according to claim 6 wherein the buckle and the linkage are of rectangular, round, oval and other form predetermined by the design and purpose. 